California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

Waste Reduction in Tehama County

A Model for Local Government Recycling and Waste Reduction

Summary and Table of Contents

Communities in rural areas face special challenges in their efforts to meet the requirements of AB 939. The dispersed nature of the population can make efficient collection of trash, recyclables, and yard debris difficult. Rural communities are often far from processors and markets for recyclables and yard debris, have a limited budget for provision of waste services, and must rely on a small staff to keep abreast of regulatory requirements and administer complex programs. Furthermore, rural communities often must address open burning and illegal dumping. Despite these handicaps, in 1999 Tehama County achieved a 43 percent reduction of total waste generation.

Table 1: 1998 Tehama County Landfill Diversion (in tons)*
Recycling and Composting 21,048
Source Reduction1 12,366
Total Waste Reduction 33,414
Disposal 43,697
Total Generation 77,111
% Reduced 43%

Table of Contents

*Source: Tehama County Sanitary Landfill Agency, 1999.
Notes: Data represents total waste generation (residential, commercial, and construction and demolition debris) as reported in the Tehama County Sanitary Landfill Agency's New Base Year Generation Study (1998) submitted to and approved by the CalRecycle. Separate figures for residential waste, commercial waste, and construction and demolition debris are not available.
1 Paper use reduction in City of Corning offices, wood waste reused by local industries, grasscycling of lawns at schools and parks, and reusable goods surplused by a local school and sold through thrift stores and garage sales.

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